Here is your Tuesday update, covering:

• Applications for a September 2025 secondary school place now open
• More empowered, healthy and happy: Age Friendly Cardiff Action Plan 2024-2028
• Ysgol Bro Eirwg praised for strong leadership and rich learning environment in latest Estyn inspection

Applications for a September 2025 secondary school place now open

Applications for a September 2025 secondary school place are now open, and families are reminded that applying on time and providing five school preferences can increase their chances of getting a place at one of their preferred schools.

Cardiff Council's Admissions Team have provided simple step-by-step advice and guidance in the form of 7 tips, to help families who are applying for a school place in Cardiff.

The information is available  online  and through an animation   aimed at children and families, helping to explain how the admissions process works and the importance of using all five preferences available.

Should a family choose to only put one school option for example, they are greatly limiting their chances of securing a preferred school.

It also covers things like:

• the importance of applying on time, by the published application deadline
• the benefits of exploring all the schools in the child's area by visiting their websites and reading their Estyn reports
• making sure the application form includes essential information such as if the child has a sibling at the school or any additional learning, medical or social needs

Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "Our goal remains to ensure that every family in Cardiff has access to the necessary information, support, and understanding to avoid being at a disadvantage when applying for a school place.

"We want to remind families that listing only one school on their application doesn't improve the likelihood of being accepted there. In fact, by not using all five available options, families may reduce their chances of securing a place at one of their preferred schools.

"To ensure that the school application process is fair and accessible to all, several initiatives are in place, aimed at promoting a more equitable system for allocating school places in Cardiff. One of these is our ongoing '7 Tips Admissions' campaign, which offers clear guidance and support, making the admissions process more transparent and straightforward so that every family has an equal opportunity to secure a place at one of their preferred schools."

Read more here

More empowered, healthy and happy: Age Friendly Cardiff Action Plan 2024-2028

A renewed commitment to making Cardiff a great place to grow older is at the heart of a new draft action plan.

Age-Friendly Cardiff,  a network of public service partners including Cardiff Council, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, South Wales Police and the third sector as well as other organisations including businesses, shops, entertainment venues, community groups and older people themselves, has developed the new five-year plan as a road map for creating an environment where older people are supported to be more active, where they can participate in all aspects of city life, and live independently in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.

The development of the 2024 - 2028 plan, discussed by Cardiff Council's Cabinet at its meeting today (September 19), builds on the considerable progress made by Age Friendly Cardiff since becoming the first Welsh member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Network for Age Friendly Cities and Communities in March 2022. Now considered by the WHO as an "outstanding member" of the network, Age Friendly Cardiff's work has been showcased to other members around the world as an example of good practice.

Aligned with a number of local, regional and national, strategies and plans, including the Council's Corporate Plan 2024-27 and Ageing Well Strategy 2022 - 2027, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board's Shaping our Future Wellbeing Strategy 2023-2035, Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board's Joint Area Plan 2023-28 and Welsh Government's ‘Age Friendly Wales: our strategy for an ageing society', the plan highlights the achievements of the past year including:

• 36,318 care hours delivered by Care Hubs
• 344 home visits carried out by Sight Life, a charity for visually impaired people
• 2,055 older person's events delivered in Cardiff Hubs
• 33,147 customer contacts managed by the Council's First Point of Contact team
• 12,000 Home Safety Checks carried out by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
• 290 dementia-friendly businesses
• 17,144 visitors to the Dementia Friendly Cardiff website
• Over 200 engagement events by South Wales Police

Older Person's Champion and Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Cllr Leonora Thomson, said: "Cardiff has an ageing population and while the fact that people are living longer is something we should celebrate, it's important that we work together to help older people to be active, healthy and as independent as possible as they grow older.

"The 2024- 2028 plan is the result of extensive collaboration with partners and consultation with our community. We all share the joint vision that our city meets the needs and aspirations of our older citizens, continuing to move forward on our age friendly journey and building on the excellent progress achieved so far."

Read more here

Ysgol Bro Eirwg Praised for strong leadership and rich learning environment in latest Estyn inspection

Ysgol Bro Eirwg, a Welsh-medium primary school located in Rumney, has been highly commended by Estyn, His Majesty's Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales, in its most recent inspection report.

The school, which is part of the Ffederasiwn y Ddraig federation, has been recognised for its clear leadership, supportive environment, and commitment to nurturing pupils' pride in their Welsh identity.

Inspectors noted that the headteacher, in collaboration with senior leaders, provides clear and effective leadership that has significantly contributed to the consistency in the school's provision and the holistic education of its pupils. The effective cooperation within the federation and with Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern's cluster schools has further strengthened this leadership.

The school has created a supportive environment that prioritises high-quality care and well-being for its pupils and this positive atmosphere is reflected in the pupils' behavior and attitudes towards each other and adults.

The report recognises the school's highly effective self-evaluation and planning for improvement processes and the way in which leaders skillfully used gathered information to enhance the school's provision, particularly in developing a stimulating learning environment that fosters curiosity and confidence among the youngest pupils.

Teachers at the school are commended for planning purposeful opportunities that develop a strong sense of community and Welsh identity among pupils and the school provides a wide range of valuable experiences that broaden pupils' horizons and contribute to their overall development.

Although most pupils enter the school with Welsh-speaking skills below the expected level, they make substantial progress during their time at the school and by the end of their time at Ysgol Bro Eirwg, most pupils are able to communicate confidently in both Welsh and English.

Estyn has invited the school to prepare a case study on its successful approach to creating a rich and stimulating learning environment. This case study will be shared on Estyn's website to benefit other schools across Wales.

Read more here